BEARS WIN IN SHOOTOUT FRIDAY AT ALBANY

October 31, 2008

SHOOTOUT WIN GIVES HERSHEY 8-2-0-0 MARK AFTER 10 GAMES By: John Walton The BEARS watched the River Rats rally Friday night at the last second, but emerged with a 4-3 shootout victory at Times Union Center in Albany. Alexandre Giroux got the scoring started late in the first period Friday with his league leading ninth goal of the season. Graham Mink and Keith Aucoin assisted on the marker at 17:45, and HERSHEY took a 1-0 lead after one. Albany managed to outshoot the BEARS 14-11 in period one. The teams battled through much of the second period exchanging scoring chances, but it was Andrew Gordon that finally broke through in the middle frame. Gordon’s sixth of the season came at 13:48. Albany would again close within a goal in the closing moments of the period with Jerome Samson’s first goal of the season at 18:26. Despite the goal from Gordon, the advantage was just one goal heading to the third period. Oskar Osala scored his sixth goal of the season to give the BEARS a two goal lead at 3-1, but the Rats battled back to tie the game in dramatic fashion. Pat Dwyer scored his second goal of the season at 11:31 to pull Albany within a goal, and then Bobby Hughes tied the game with seven tenths of a second left to force overtime. Neither team scored in sudden death, and Keith Aucoin earned the win for HERSHEY with a goal in the fifth round of the shootout. The win gave the BEARS a 5-1 record on the road this season, and it also earned rookie goaltender Bobby Goepfert his first AHL win. Notes: The BEARS return home to face the Philadelphia Phantoms Saturday at GIANT Center. Face-off is at 7:00 p.m., with tickets available through the GIANT Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911. HERSHEY will return to Albany next Friday to again face the River Rats at 7:00 p.m. Andrew Joudrey, Sean Collins and Dean Arsene were scratches Friday. Tyler Sloan was assigned to HERSHEY Friday morning by the Washington Capitals. Sloan is expected to be available Saturday for the game against Philadelphia. The BEARS have the league's best point total with 16. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game 1. Keith Aucoin (Shootout goal capped off a triumphant return) 2. Oskar Osala (6th goal of the season a big one in the third) 3. Bobby Hughes (Goal at 19:59 for Albany forced overtime)